2016 1 oz British .999 Silver Lunar Year of the Monkey Coin (BU) Encapsulated

The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom has another stunning design depicting the 9^th creature in the Zodiac. The third release in the series, the 2016 1 oz British Silver Monkey Coin is now available. 

Coin Highlights:

• Encapsulated Brilliant Uncirculated condition. 
• Contains 1 troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Bears a face value of 2 (GBP) backed by the government of the United Kingdom.
• Features the latest Lunar Series design for 2016, honoring the Year of the Monkey.
• All-new right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II featured on the obverse.

These 2016 1 oz British Silver Monkey Coins are part of the larger Shengxiao Collection from the Royal Mint. The Lunar Series was introduced in 2014 with a Year of the Horse design, and continued in 2015 with the Year of the Goat. The Year of the Monkey coin is the third in a series of 12 coins that represent the first Lunar Series ever produced by the Royal Mint.

On the reverse side of each coin is the image of as it prepares to leap from one branch to the next in a tree. The monkey in the foreground has its arms outstretched, preparing to catch the next branch as its hind legs push off. In the background, another monkey can be seen swinging by its arms. Engravings on this side include Year of the Monkey and 2016 above, with the Chinese symbol for monkey below.

The obverse side of the 2016 1 oz British Silver Monkey Coin features a new design of Queen Elizabeth II for the first time in almost 30 years. Her right-profile image is encircled by engravings that include her name and the face value of the coin in Great Britain Pounds.

This new obverse design is the first change in the Queens image on British coins since 1988. Created by 33-year-old Jody Clark, this image will replace the long-standing profile created by Ian Rank-Broadley. It marks the fifth total portrait update for Queen Elizabeth II, and fourth available in circulation.